SYDNEY (AP) South Africa will face a youthful Cricket Australia XI in the two-day match next week which opens the Australian tour.
Every member of the side, picked by Cricket Australia's youth selection panel, is under 22 years of age including the captain, Victoria allrounder Matthew Short.
The team includes 17-year-old Queensland fast bowler Xavier Bartlett and New South Wales batsman Ryan Gibson who has averaged over 50 with the bat in his first five matches in Australia's domestic one-day Cup.
Cricket Australia talent manager Greg Chappell said the match at Adelaide Oval on Oct. 22 and 23 allows the players ''to compete at a higher level and see how they fare. We believe they have the capabilities to compete against the South Africans and are excited to see what they produce.''
